Resource Currently Under Development

This resource contains a listing of some of the main sources of roads data available in Ontario. The list is not exhaustive but should be sufficient for most users that require Ontario roads data. When choosing a source of Ontario roads data, (in the list below or not), it is important to determine what data are available (e.g., within the organization or local municipality), whether the dataset meets the needs of the project (e.g., in terms of quality, features, etc.), any possible costs associated with acquisition and data licensing and/or access agreements that may be in place, etc. Each dataset will differ in some or all of these components. The most suitable roads data source will be chosen on a case-by-case basis, after all the factors have been taken into account. Given the spatial nature of these datasets, it may be best to consult a GIS/Geospatial analyst/specialist for guidance on data source selection.

Ontario Road Network (ORN) (1)
Original Source: Ministry of Natural Resources
Distributed by: Ministry of Natural Resources
Metadata URL: http://publicdocs.mnr.gov.on.ca/View.asp?Document_ID=17566&Attachment_ID=37853
Use: Generation of network dataset - used in part for the creation of the service areas (walking catchment areas)
Suggested citation (see Data Citation Notes): Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, © Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2010

Data Notes 

• Land Information Ontario (LIO) collaborated with municipalities and the federal government to develop a geospatial database for Ontario roads known as the Ontario Road Network (ORN).
• The ORN includes data on over 250,000 kilometers of Ontario municipal, provincial and resource roads.
• LIO maintains the ORN using data from the road authorities with legislative responsibility: municipalities, the Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Natural Resources.
• The ORN has a positional accuracy of 10 metres or better. It includes descriptions of road characteristics, such as street names, highway numbers, addresses, road classifications, surface type, direction of traffic flow, and speed limits.
• The ORN is available in both a Linear Referencing System (LRS) format, suitable for use in asset management systems, and a Segmented format, suitable for use in routing, geocoding, and mapping applications.
• The ORN uses a Geographic Coordinate system (GCS) (measured in latitude/longitude) and the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83).
• The ORN is available to all health units through the Land Information Ontario (LIO) Warehouse at no cost through the Ontario Geospatial Data Exchange (OGDE) or the Unrestricted Use License (UUL) - Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (see References and Resources (1).

1. Ministry of Natural Resources. Key Land Information of Ontario (LIO) Data Sets. Available from: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LIO/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_167960.html 
2. Ministry of Natural Resources. Ontario Road Network. Available from: http://publicdocs.mnr.gov.on.ca/View.asp?Document_ID=17566&Attachment_ID=37853

Road Network File (RNF) (1)
Original Source: Statistics Canada, 2005- 2011.
Distributed By: Statistics Canada
Metadata URL: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/bsolc/olc-cel/olc-cel?lang=eng&catno=92-500-GWE
Use: Generation of network dataset - used in part for the creation of the service areas (walking catchment areas)
Suggested citation (see Data Citation Notes): Road Network File, Census [year]. Statistics Canada Catalogue [no.]

Data Notes

• The Road Network File is a digital representation of Canada's national road network, containing information such as street names, types, directions and address ranges.
• The RNF covers all of Canada.
• The Road Network File does not contain street information required for route optimization - for example data on one-way streets, dead-ends and other street obstacles are not included in the Road Network File.
• This file is not recommended for engineering applications, emergency dispatching services, surveying or legal applications.
• The Road Network File contains road arcs with either address ranges sourced from field observation, administrative data source, imputed address ranges, or no address ranges.
• The RNF uses a Geographic Coordinate system (GCS) (measured in latitude/longitude) and the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83).
• The RNF is freely available for download from Statistics Canada (see References and Resources (2).

1. Statistics Canada. Road Network File, Reference Guide, 2011 Census Year. Ottawa, 2011. Catalogue no. 92-500-G. Available from: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/92-500-g/92-500-g2011001-eng.pdf
2. Statistics Canada. Road Network File. Available from: http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/geo/RNF-FRR/index-eng.cfm  

Local Single-Line Road Network File (SLRN)
Original Source: (Local Agency, Government)
Distributed By: (Local Agency, Government)
Metadata URL: (Local Agency, Government)
Use: Generation of network dataset - used in part for the creation of the service areas (walking catchment areas)
Suggested citation (see Data Citation Notes): Will depend on the source of these data

• Data-specific notes will depend on the source of these data
• Similar to the ORN and RNF, a SLRN contains a single line to represent each road segment - often following the centre of the roadway
• Attributes of road networks often include (for each line segment) (again, depending on the data source): road name, road type, address fields, speed, direction, etc.
• SLRNs are generally used for and are at a quality to allow routing and networking applications
• SLRN file access will vary depending on the source.